<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>How do I create a new forum?</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<meta content="" name="description">
<link href="../css/help.css" media="all" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" charset="utf-8">
<link href="/library/webjars/fontawesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet">
<link href="/library/skin/morpheus-default/tool.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" charset="utf-8">
<script src="/library/webjars/jquery/1.12.4/jquery.min.js" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script src="/library/js/headscripts.js" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
    includeWebjarLibrary('featherlight');
    $(document).ready(function(){
      $("a.screensteps-image-zoom").featherlight({
        type: { image:true },
        closeOnClick: 'anywhere'
      }); 
    });   
</script>
</head>
<body>
  <div><div>
<div><h1 class="article-title">How do I create a new forum?</h1></div>
<div>



    <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock screensteps-wrapper--introduction screensteps-wrapper">
  <div id="text-content_0E77FDF5-49AD-40B3-B54C-11B14334EE86" class="text-block-content">
    <p>The <strong>Discussions</strong> tool is organized by <strong>Forums</strong>, <strong>Topics</strong>, and <strong>Conversations</strong>.  </p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Forums</strong> are mandatory categories containing <strong>Topics</strong>. There can be more than one Forum in a site.  </li>
<li>
<strong>Topics</strong> contain <strong>Conversations</strong>.</li>
<li>
<strong>Conversations</strong> are threads of discussion and are the venue for site participants to post, read, and reply to messages.</li>
</ul>
<p>This article covers the process for creating a new Forum. Forums are useful for grouping several similar topics together, such as graded Conversations, or group Topics. They can also be used to specify the default settings for all Topics within that particular Forum. All new Topics will inherit the current Topic settings by default.</p>
  </div>
</div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="go-to-forums">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Go to Discussions.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/354/original/0caf41fa-72fe-4571-a3ee-e4f529228350.png" alt="" height="102" width="185">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_48EE3AC2-28C7-41AE-B4A0-12375A250B69" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Select <strong>Discussions</strong> from the Tool Menu of your site.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="click-new-forum">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Click New Forum.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/812/original/856d0446-077a-4610-ad45-d36c904022c4.png" alt="" height="54" width="546">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_004437C7-25A0-48F9-995B-C63C3E26DF4F" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Click <strong>New Forum</strong> to add a new discussion.  </p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="title-the-forum">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Title the Forum.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/814/original/7b99df0d-26e2-40d8-a624-7d17a4c5cf9c.png" alt="" height="75" width="749">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_74BA1034-2835-4312-BEF1-8E2A02167325" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Complete the<strong> Forum Title </strong>field. Use a title which easily identifies the types of Topics and Conversations that you anticipate occurring within it.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="enter-a-short-description">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Enter a short description. (Optional)</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/816/original/f73d0a1c-fc0b-4d36-9aa7-2c03cfb8a4bd.png" alt="" height="109" width="749">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_ACE95000-C900-4654-BA1D-6E2C500BBBBC" class="text-block-content">
    <p>If desired, complete the <strong>Short Description</strong> field. This information about the Forum is displayed to site participants when they view the Discussions tool.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="enter-a-detailed-description">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Enter a detailed description. (Optional)</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/818/original/f12d85cf-740d-4078-a5f8-294299188e95.png" alt="" height="282" width="756">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_177DD1F2-022A-4657-AD52-A2346059D0E1" class="text-block-content">
    <p>If desired, use the <a href="content.hlp?docId=whatistherichtexteditor">Rich Text Editor</a> to complete the <strong>Description</strong> field to provide more detailed instructions about the items in this Forum.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Add attachments. (Optional)</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/820/original/f1946199-2811-4e9f-b15e-f3c285af399d.png" alt="" height="108" width="147">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_83425F60-89F9-46B8-92AE-8F88A07DAAC4" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Optionally attach file attachments to the Forum. Click the<strong> Add attachments</strong> button to browse for and select a file from your device.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="select-forum-posting-options">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Select posting settings.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/401/266/original/94bb061c-900b-4fb5-ae45-d46a7e9b154e.png" alt="" height="166" width="312">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_9A4666A0-706C-4418-A26E-E2BAD8999B6C" class="text-block-content">
    <p>There are several discussion posting options in the <strong>Forum Posting</strong> area from which to choose:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Lock forum</strong>: lock the contents of the Forum so students can no longer post messages. However, they can continue to read existing messages.  </li>
<li>
<strong>Moderate topics in forum</strong>: configure the Forum such that all messages posted within must be approved by the instructor before other students can see them.</li>
<li>
<strong>Require users to post before reading</strong>:<strong> </strong>require users to post their own response first before they can view other messages posted previously. This is a useful option if you prefer that students respond to a discussion prompt before seeing other student responses.</li>
</ul>
  </div>
</div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock screensteps-wrapper--info screensteps-wrapper">
  <div id="text-content_AF6FFDF9-09D4-475F-80FA-FDC0FE2FF94B" class="text-block-content">
    <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: Settings selected here will apply to all of the Topics created within this Forum, but can be overriden by the settings of an individual Topic if desired.</em></p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="select-availability">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Select availability settings.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/981/780/original/683fcd09-f7c3-4b09-85b1-2459d5271e7e.png" alt="" height="115" width="337">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_78B4ED0D-6256-43EF-B92B-9C0127A29D4E" class="text-block-content">
    <ul>
<li>Select <strong>Show Immediately</strong> to allow the new Forum to be available to students immediately after creation.</li>
<li>Select <strong>Specify dates to open (show) and/or close (hide) </strong>to configure the Forum to be available during specific dates. </li>
</ul>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="select-read-options">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Activate automatic marking as read.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/975/824/original/c68082a4-101e-42e2-be39-c611837b128e.png" alt="" height="81" width="403">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_C16ADC31-EABB-44B4-A3E1-4A2015CEC0B9" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Optionally activate <strong>Mark All Messages in Conversations Read</strong>. This option provides students with an option to mark all messages within a conversation, or thread, as read.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="specify-gradebook-item">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Specify Gradebook item.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/978/101/original/1ee89b25-2d20-419f-98a0-a3b14fed050a.png" alt="" height="65" width="581">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_CBBB66C0-4F0A-43FD-B6E9-3A10A2E1E0A3" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Open <strong>Select a Gradebook item</strong> to specify a Gradebook item that will automatically be used when you grade posts in the new Forum.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock screensteps-wrapper--info screensteps-wrapper">
  <div id="text-content_04AA402D-0A03-4995-AC0F-699A3B7AED36" class="text-block-content">
    <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: You must first create the Gradebook item in Gradebook tool before you can select it to be associated with a discussion or topic.</em></p>
  </div>
</div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock screensteps-wrapper--tip screensteps-wrapper">
  <div id="text-content_919BB3E7-A744-4984-8B48-2A2E924DBFF9" class="text-block-content">
    <p><em><strong>Tip</strong>: Many instructors prefer to assign Gradebook items to Topics (rather than Forums) to be more specific about grading.</em></p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="modifying-permissions">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Modifying permissions</h2>
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_45DA3636-395C-47B3-B293-91D0D7C384C6" class="text-block-content">
    <p>In most cases, the default discussion permissions are appropriate. By default, instructors are discussion <strong>Owners</strong>, and all other site participants are <strong>Contributors</strong>. The Owner can add and delete Topics, modify permissions, edit the Forum and Topic descriptions, etc. Contributors can only read, post, and reply to messages.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
        <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-2" id="change-the-permission-level">
    <h3 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Modify Permission Level.</h3>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/978/103/original/f6f200f3-fe9d-45e5-b90c-7283b08df59e.png" alt="" height="436" width="734">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_F2D0785F-C87A-4A5B-BE00-5639A9E442FC" class="text-block-content">
    <p> </p>
<ol>
<li>Click the <strong>Permission Level </strong>menu that's associated with a role for which you'd like to change the permissions. </li>
<li>Select a new Permission Level.</li>
</ol>
<p>In the example, the Teaching Assistant is provided with the Owner role for the new Forum. </p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>
 
        <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-2" id="or-create-custom-a-custom-permission-level">
    <h3 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Or, create a custom permission level.</h3>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/978/105/original/17014b3c-66e8-45a0-88e7-a6b5ffd74718.png" alt="" height="600" width="733">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_BAF0A23E-43CB-46F3-80CB-10037A723656" class="text-block-content">
    <ol>
<li>Click the <strong>Customize</strong> menu that's associated with a role for which you'd like to change the permissions. </li>
<li>Select new permissions for the role as needed.</li>
</ol>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>
 
  </div>

      <div class="step screensteps-section screensteps-depth-1" id="save-and-add-topic">
    <h2 class="step-title screensteps-heading">Click Save.</h2>
        <div class="image screensteps-image">
      <img src="https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/006/978/107/original/de0c13f5-d145-4734-b4cf-2d39271303fa.png" alt="" height="46" width="532">
  </div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock">
  <div id="text-content_BB846C2E-21D3-4CB1-9102-387060760A72" class="text-block-content">
    <p>Click <strong>Save </strong>to create the new Forum. </p>
<p>Alternatively, click <strong>Save Settings &amp; Add Topic</strong> to create the Forum and advance immediately to the Topic creation page.</p>
  </div>
</div>
 
      <div class="step-instructions screensteps-textblock screensteps-wrapper--info screensteps-wrapper">
  <div id="text-content_C7DA6576-8638-449F-8CC0-D6AECF4818E0" class="text-block-content">
    <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: All Forums need at least one Topic in order to be active. See </em><a href="content.hlp?docId=howdoiaddanewtopic"><em>How do I add a new topic?</em></a><em> for more information.</em></p>
  </div>
</div>
 
  </div>


</div>
</div></div>
</body>
</html>
